Jaden Isaiah Garay, a 25-year-old resident of Weaverville, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Garay's charges include carjacking and discharging a firearm that seriously injured a U.S. Postal Carrier. In addition to his prison sentence, Garay is required to pay restitution totaling $714,450.95.
Jessica Wagner, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), joined other law enforcement officials in making the announcement. “Garay’s violent crime spree was a blatant disregard for the law and human life,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “His rampage put innocent lives at risk and ended with the near-fatal shooting of a postal worker simply doing her job."
The incident began when Garay stole a loaded semiautomatic handgun from his relatives' home after an argument. While driving on Interstate I-26 near Mars Hill, he fired at another vehicle containing an underage passenger; fortunately, no one was injured.
Garay then abandoned his vehicle in Mars Hill and entered a residential neighborhood where he broke into a home but left without causing harm after threatening the homeowner.
Later, Garay approached T.R., a rural postal carrier delivering mail in her Jeep Wrangler, and demanded her vehicle at gunpoint. When T.R.'s door was blocked by a mailbox as she tried to comply, Garay shot her in the face before stealing her vehicle.
After fleeing onto I-40 with law enforcement in pursuit, Garay drove over "stop sticks" deployed by officers but continued until reaching a dead end where he abandoned the Jeep and fled on foot into nearby woods. He was apprehended the following morning.
T.R., who sustained life-threatening injuries from the gunshot wound, faces permanent injuries and a lengthy recovery process.
Garay pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024, to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended various law enforcement agencies for their efforts in apprehending Garay and thanked Madison County District Attorney Seth Banks for assisting with coordination between federal investigations.